Few names in the firearms industry have the legacy of Springfield Armory. In 1777, George Washington ordered the creation of the Springfield Armory to store ammunition and gun carriages for the American Revolutionary War. Then in 1794, the Armory began manufacturing muskets for a young country. For the next 150 years, it functioned as a supplier for every major American conflict as well as a “think tank” for new firearm concepts.

Upper Echelon: the Springfield Armory Echelon Modular Pistol

Fast forward to today and Springfield Armory is still a leader in both firearms production and design. Because of this extensive history, I am always quick to look when there is word of a new gun coming out the doors of Springfield Armory. The “top secret” buzz surrounding this release only drove my curiosity and hopes that it was something unique. When my “for your eyes only” box arrived from Springfield Armory, however, I realized that this was more than something unique. It was a completely different design for Springfield Armory and one that was an evolution in their pistol design. Say hello to the new Springfield Armory Echelon.

Dynamic Features

The Echelon is a new striker-fired duty pistol that is a major departure from their existing lineup. With a host of patent pending features, this modular and adaptable handgun is designed around a robust stainless-steel chassis and unique optics mounting system. What makes this new pistol so unique, however, is its new Central Operating Group (COG). Employing cutting-edge manufacturing techniques, the COG is entirely self-contained and serialized, allowing it to be easily moved between grip modules in seconds.

The Central Operating Group can be installed in any Echelon grip module, allowing shooters to create a firearm that fits perfectly in their hand. This modularity allows shooters the opportunity to essentially have multiple gun sizes with just one COG. The COG is easily removed after a basic field strip and can be dropped in a new frame in less than a minute. The frames are available in small, medium and large, and each grip module accepts the Central Operating Group. The Echelon also ships with three backstraps, which are universal and can be installed using the integrated armorer tool.

Innovative Optics-Ready Mounting System

While that is a gold mine feature, Springfield Armory has looked at one other area that is of interest to shooters. Rare is the day now that a new pistol hits the market and is not optics-ready. Glass on handguns has become the norm, but the cuts that manufacturers use usually force us into one camp or the other. Springfield Armory has heard our cry and has included a unique solution. Concealed beneath the slide cover plate is the Echelon’s patent-pending optic mounting system. The Variable Interface System (VIS) allows users to mount more than 30 optics directly to the slide without the use of adapter plates. Simply configure the self-locking pins for the footprint of your desired optic to achieve a low, direct mount for an improved sight picture. This includes everything from the Trijicon RMR and Shield RMSc to the Steiner MPS.

The attention to detail continues in the slide design of the Echelon. The Echelon’s slide features four distinct engagement surfaces. A trench cut forward of the action gives shooters a natural index location for press checks and charging the firearm. The back of the slide is flared for positive purchase while deep forward and rear serrations are carried through the corners for a firm grip from any angle.

Range-Ready & Rugged

Sight-wise, the gun comes standard with the Tactical Rack U-Notch rear sight and a tritium front sight with a luminescent ring. A tritium three-dot configuration is also available. Springfield Armory is also offering suppressor height sights for those who want to run the gun suppressed.

The Echelon comes with a solid barrel as well. Springfield uses the hammer forging process to produce a stronger barrel with a smoother surface for excellent accuracy and service life. It is then Melonite coated for corrosion and wear resistance. Currently, you can choose between a 4.5-inch standard or a 5.28-inch threaded barrel with 1/2×28 thread pitch.

The unique texture of the grip caught my eye. Called “Adaptive Grip Texture,” it was developed for the challenges of concealed carry. The Adaptive Grip Texture feels smooth to the touch until you apply pressure and engage the more aggressive texture just below the surface. In short, the unique grip design provides more purchase as you firmly grip the gun. This texture goes beyond just the grip and is included on several common indexing points. I have seen a couple of attempts at a grip like this in years past, but Springfield Armory has found the voodoo to make it work well. The frame also has an oversized and undercut triggerguard that fits gloved hands well.

Further Refinements

Finally, as a tip of the hat to serious shooters, the gun is equipped with an ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release for intuitive use. This is not a “can be moved” design but a true ambi setup, which I personally appreciate. Springfield Armory has also given special attention to the magazines in the Echelon. The gun employs a newly developed magazine for rugged durability, hard use and reliable operation. Blacked out in a new scratch- and wear-resistant coating, the magazine features a capacity of 17+1 in its flush-fit configuration and 20+1 with the extended base pad installed.

As with any truly new design, serious shooters consider safety. Springfield Armory shared with me, “The Echelon is designed and tested to exceed SAAMI drop test parameters by adhering to even tougher standards—our own. In addition to passing rigorous testing, the Echelon’s COG features a unique second sear design to help prevent unintentional discharge should the firearm be dropped. Field stripping the Echelon is toolless and requires no pull of the trigger.” While the gun certainly checked a lot of boxes on paper, the truth of performance could only be found on the range.

Range Report

The gun Springfield Armory provided was completely set up. Model-wise, it was the Echelon 4.5-inch 9mm and included a Trijicon RMR optic, SureFire X300-U weapon light and a new Safariland 6360 Echelon RDS holster. My first impressions of the gun were solid. The fit on the gun was good, and it had good tolerance. The aesthetics of the Echelon were pleasing with its bold lines, cuts and unique grip texture. The optics cut is relatively low on the gun, and the RMR was easy to acquire.

One specific area I was curious about because of its modular nature was the trigger. On the scale, it broke consistently at 4.5 pounds. It is a flat-face trigger with a standard center blade for the safety. The movement was smooth with no grit or grab and a clean break. The reset is a little long but was uneventful. The grip performed as advertised and provided a solid purchase on the gun contrary to what its appearance may suggest. In a lot of ways, it reminded me of the days when we would put skater tape on our guns. With the once-over complete, it was time to hit the range and put the Echelon through its paces.

I wanted to run a spectrum of ammo during the test, so I chose Federal 147-grain American Eagle, Hornady 115-grain FTX Critical Defense and Blazer Brass 115-grain FMJ. After a short moment to zero the RMR, I was off to the races. Loading the gun was a simple business. The mag well has a very slight bevel in it, but it’s not significant enough to say it helps speed up a reload.

Rounds Downrange

The gun shined when I chambered a round. The slightly flared rear of the slide made racking the slide a breeze. Then the unique trench cut forward of the action really did give me a solid and comfortable purchase on the slide for the following press check. The gun sat well in my hands with the backstrap that came on the gun. The first shots were good, and at 10 yards I had a single ragged hole made by five rounds. At 15 yards, it turned into 1.5 inches in slow-fire groups. Shooting at 25 yards opened the group up to 2.5 inches.

At speed, the gun performed equally well. While I would not classify the Echelon as heavy, it is a breath heavier than other full-size guns in its class. This slight additional meat on the bone does contribute to recoil management and reducing muzzle rise. Add onto that the SureFire light and even the lightweight RMR, and it had very manageable heft. While I used the RMR as my aiming tool, the sights sat in the lower third of the optic. If you were to run the gun without an optic, Springfield’s U-Dot sights would serve you well. These sights work extremely well for both fast acquisition and precision aiming in my experience.

At the end of the day, the pile of brass said it was time to wrap up. While not a durability test by any stretch, the 500 rounds I put through the gun all ran without issue and had zero malfunctions. I would be hard-pressed to say which ammo performed best, but the 115-grain Hornady seemed to have the best feel. Short of running junk, I don’t think this gun will ever be ammo sensitive.

Upshot

The Echelon is a new chapter for Springfield Armory. The modular nature of the gun and the shooters’ ability to swap frames is a solid market decision in my humble opinion. Throw into that the performance of the gun and you have a winner in your hands. For more information, visit springfield-armory.com.

Springfield Armory Echelon Features & Specs

• Caliber: 9mm
• Barrel: 4.5 inches
• Overall Length: 8 inches
• Overall Weight: 23.9 ounces (empty)
• Grips: Textured polymer
• Sights: Tritium luminescent front, Tactical Rack rear
• Action: Striker-fired
• Finish: Matte black
• Capacity: 17+1, 20+1
• MSRP: $679

This article and more on the Springfield Armory Echelon appear in the July-August 2023 issue of Tactical Life Magazine. Get your print or digital copy or subscription at OutdoorGroupStore.com.